We seldom pause to think about electricity, except for when that electricity bill arrives. As a nation built on capitalism, we are prompted to consume products—electricity being one of them. According to the U.S Energy Information Administration, the average U.S. residential customer uses approximately 909 kWh of energy per month. In 2016, NY State residents consumed on average 595 kWh per month, which is considerably less than the nation’s average. That being said, one kWh goes for 29 cents so an average New Yorker’s monthly electricity bill totals up to $172.55.
With the current outbreak of COVID-19 and mandatory stay-at-home orders going into effect, I was curious to see how electricity usage had changed.
Con Edison is an energy company that provides NYC and Westchester with electricity, gas and steam. They also provide monthly electricity and gas consumption reports, so you can access your personal usage. This data was downloaded and the electricity usage data from January to April 2020 were analysed. What follows are a few vizualisations to better understand the electricity consumation of a four-family household and how that consumption has changed during the 2020 Covid-19 Pandemic.
Here’s an overview of the total monthly electricity use.
While this household is well below the state average, there was an approximate 100 kWh increase in electricity usage over the four moths. There is a significant spike (+42.66 kWh) in electricity use from March (280.81kWh) to April (323.47kWh), which can be explained by the stay at home orders that resulted from the global pandemic.Let’s take a deeper dive into the data. What does the daily breakdown look like? At which times were electricity used the most and least?
January 7th had the greatest amount of electricity consumed (12.63 kWh) for that month. Electricity usage peaked from 9-11am and then again around 4-5pm. A total of 10.01 kWh of electricity was consumed on February 23rd, which was the most energy consumptive day of the month. Here we see electricity usage peaking at 10pm (0.27 kWh). On March 25th, 11.79 kWh of electricity was consumed. This is a slight increase from February, which is expected as lockdown orders went into effect towards the middle of the month. Electricity usage was at its highest around 7-8pm. In April, we see a significant increase in electricity consumption with a whopping 13.27 kWh consumed on April 16th. Interestingly enough, electricity usage was at its highest at 3pm—a rather unusual time.The reality is that electricity usage doesn’t seem predictable. Just look at the daily usage. It’s all over the place!
Outliars: The accuracy of recorded electricity usage is not continuous. The following are outliars:
When we remove the outliars, we can get a more accurate view of electricity usage in January.
Electricity usage was almost constant throughout the month of January (+0.2 kWh). A drop in electricity on Friday, January 3rd occurred because the residents took a trip to Maine. However, a relative came over to feed the cat. On Saturday, January 18th the residents took a day trip to New Jersey to bring their daughter back to college. It is interesting that electricity usage was lower when the residents took a day trip than when they left for an overnight to Maine. The decrease in electricity use between the 14th and 17th is due to a trip to North Carolina, so both residents were out of town. The relative drop on the 20th could be that both residents weren’t at home. The decrease in usage on the 27th is explained by both residents taking a day trip to NJ to attend their daughter’s flute concert.Outliars:
In order to get a more accurate picture of electricity usage for February, we can view the same plot as above but without the outliars.
Here we can clearly see the trip to North Carolina. Electricity usage was also almost constant (+0.1kwh). Here one would expect to see a clear increase in the electricity usage beginning March 13th, as this was when all four residents began to quarantine. While the increase isn’t clear, the electricity usage does peak on March 15th (11.54 kWh), 25th (11.79 kWh), 30th (11.39 kWh) and 31st (11.54 kWh), all days after March 13th.To put things into perspective, on February 23rd—the most electricity consumptive day—10.01 kWh of electricity was consumed. In comparaison, 11.79 kWh were consumed on March 25th.
Over the course of March, electricity usage increased by 1.7 kWh.
The real question is why the sudden decrease on March 18-19th and March 27-28th? Or why the sudden increase on March 15th, 17th, 22nd, 25th, 30th and 31st?
In April electricity use peaked on Thursday, April 16th (13.37 kWh) and Sunday, April 26th (12.76 kWh).Electricity consumption increased by 1.9 kWh.
What will the month of May look like?
Electricity usage did increase during the months of March and April, as all four residents were forced to work from home. While the total monthly electricity usage was still well below the statewide average, their electricity usage did increase by almost 100 kWh in the the four months. When you start doing the math, that adds up.
we said earlier that 1 kWh of electricity costs 29 cents. So by these calculations the electricity bills were:
$64.50 in January
$62.27 in February
$81.44 in March
$93.80 in April
That means this household’s electricity bill increased by almost $30!
So all in all, electricity usage increased by almost 100 kWh and the electricity bill increased by almost $30. Turns out quarantine is both energy intensive and relatively expensive.